Change in Career Direction????

RE: Change in Career Direction????

Yvette Boffey — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 20:09:35 GMT

[quote user="Jeni"]

Hello

I was suffering with mental health issues and needed a change also but I felt I wasn't yet ready to leave the veterinary field. I currently work for RSA insurance as a vet nurse advisor (9-5 monday to friday and no phones!) and I truly can say I feel great! such a lovely working environment, I feel part of something big and the claims handlers really appreciate my input. If you would like any more information on this just ask :)

Jen

[/quote]

How did you get into doing that? I have done this job for 13 years. I have bipolar and a lot of health issues going on at the moment and I am struggling massively. I love what I do so much but even thinking of just taking a year out doing something like that could be the break I need. I couldn't really take a pay cut and my full time hours are specific to what I need for my son also.

RE: Change in Career Direction????

Nicola Smith — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 16:44:19 GMT

I ended up just refusing to leave the GP surgery without referral. Fossil GP said everyone has aches and pains and gets tired sometimes. Not a good thing to say to someone who had barely slept for a week!! Rheumatology dept were fantastic though!!

RE: Change in Career Direction????

pupsta23 — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 12:43:55 GMT

Thanks Hannah,

i'm on my next doctors appointment that I can push for a referral to rheumatologis. Keeping everything crossed.

RE: Change in Career Direction????

pupsta23 — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 12:39:53 GMT

Hi, thank Leanne.

I have considered a management role. I completed a course about 18months ago on business management, so maybe I could look into that.

Good point about the risk assessment, I'll get that sorted.

Thanks

RE: Change in Career Direction????

hannah Fernandez — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 22:19:16 GMT

I'm now on 30mg a day, one dose taken at night. I started on 10mg and increased gradually. I had a few side effects to start with but now I don't have any.

RE: Change in Career Direction????

Jeni — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 14:47:54 GMT

Hello

Jen

RE: Change in Career Direction????

Nicola Smith — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 16:39:13 GMT

Do you mind me asking what dose your own as it just turns me into a zombie!!

RE: Change in Career Direction????

hannah Fernandez — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 13:50:20 GMT

I now take Amitriptyline which is very good for nerve pain, and any burning, shooting or stabbing pains. It's early days but I'm so much better already.

RE: Change in Career Direction????

enigmaticat-uk — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 18:26:31 GMT

I had different issues but found a reduction in my hours helped a lot, also if the physical aspect of handling large dogs is problematic, consider working in a feline-only or exotic-only clinic as they tend to be less physically demanding.

RE: Change in Career Direction????

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 17:29:52 GMT

Hi,

working for a pet insurance company? Some run shifts covering desks and phones for 12-24 hours a day and so you are bound to find a shift pattern that suits your family set-up and health requirements. Desk-bound job so no physical work. Send your CV in and wait. No need to see a job advertised necessarily. Take a punt.

I worked for around 9 months as a veterinary nurse technical advisor in a pet insurance claims department. Did it whilst recovering from an injury that prevented physical work. It was very do-able for me and I enjoyed it for the nursing knowledge aspects, (salary was okay too). I was also able to keep up with my CPD (all paid for, NICE!). Once I recovered I was able to return back to permanent part-time nursing on hours that suited me and added locuming to my skills as well. You might find a desk-job suits you so well, you stay on permanently?

I unfortunately and recently had to leave permanent nursing again as my elderly mum's physical and mental health and safety now requires my strong focus. Bless her. Though opportunity can be just around the corner; I was very recently chatting to a friend and he recruited me over a pot of tea to write a vet nurse blog for his new recruitment company. Yay, another job I can fit in around my family needs. Right place, right time. I'm going for it.

Am sure there'll be an exciting opportunity for you. My methodology is to employ a bit of lateral thinking, chat to different people (like you're doing here) and not dismiss anything out of hand; I think, okay, I am not 100% sure about that nor perhaps even how to do it, but I will find out. So I say yes, I'll do it. Then Bobs ya Uncle, Fanny's ya aunt and all that jazz and I'm in a new role.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Hugs.

Ali h

PS - I am 53. You're NEVER too old!

RE: Change in Career Direction????

Nicola Smith — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 15:30:28 GMT

I too have been recently diagnosed with fibro and some days really struggle. Can I ask what treatment you have had that has worked hann ah?

RE: Change in Career Direction????

hannah Fernandez — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 14:00:22 GMT

You have described exactly what I've been through (except having a young child!). I too have been struggling a lot and have recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I was starting to think the same as you are now, to leave nursing and find a different job/career, which I really didn't want to do. It might be worth (if you can) hanging in there for a bit longer until you get a diagnosis because treatment has helped me immensely and I'm so much better that I can now do my job without being in constant pain. It sounds like you have support from your team which is great, without my team I wouldn't have been able to stick at it for as long as I did.

I hope you get a diagnosis soon and start treatment, I know everyone's response to treatment can vary but if it can work as well for you then you could also continue to do what you love!

RE: Change in Career Direction????

Tania Ford — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 11:08:09 GMT

I am a rheumatoid arthritis and now newly diagnosed crohns disease sufferer, so totally understand your reasons for wanting to try something different. I took a year out when I was diagnosed with my rheumatoid, but to be honest, was champing at the bit to get back into nursing. As it has always been a vocation rather than 'just a job', I couldn't think of anything else I would rather do, regardless of the fatigue and sleepless nights. I did consider going into pet insurance, and was even offered a good position at one of the leading companies, but after visiting them and seeing that it would be a 'desk job', I realised it just wasn't for me. I would say that teaching would be a good alternative, but friends I know that teach, say that its harder than nursing, as there is so much extra work that goes on outside of college and a lot have gone back to nursing for a rest! I personally would consider part time nursing to see if this helps with the fatigue etc and then reassess (obviously if this is financially viable) Becoming a Rep could also be a consideration.

Good luck with your decisions, and I hope you start feeling better soon x

RE: Change in Career Direction????

leanne morris — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 22:52:13 GMT

I suffer from an autoimmune disease called psoriatic arthritis. I had nursed for 18 years and then last September i moved in to the role of practice manager. Although this role is far more stressful mentally than nursing, I find it physically less challenging. As I regularly have to use crutches to get around and suffer from immense pain some days so I would find it extremely difficult to continue nursing full time. I am lucky that my employer is very supportive and understanding of my condition. This way I can still carry out some nursing duties as and when I'm able to but my job is now mainly office based so I'm glad I made the transition when I did. I also have a young child so can completely understand how difficult it is to manage family life and a full time job whilst feeling so ill at the same time. Have you had a risk assessment carried out?

RE: Change in Career Direction????

Denise Cooke — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 20:49:51 GMT

Hi first of all you never to old to change career. Have you try just doing nurse consults. As we got a RVN who is 60s and that what she enjoys now because very health problems.

If not may a college teacher or practice manager.

Good luck hope you're health gets better